Drain-valve for fih-e-hydraetts



W. W. COREY.

DRAIN VALVE FOR FIRE HYDHANTS.

APPLICATION'FILED OCT. 29| 198- Patented Dec. 2,-1919.

UNITED sTaTEls PATENT oEEroE.

' WILLIAM W. COREY, OF ST'. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DRAIN-VALV 1']v FRy FIB-E-I-IYDRANTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Dee. 2, i919..

Application filed October 29, 1918. Serial No. 260,094.

hydrants of the type shown in Letters Pa ent issued to me, March12,1895, No. 535,614, and February 7 1911, No. 983,268.

The principal object of myy invention is to generally improve upon andsimplify the construction of certain essential parts of the hydrantsdisclosed in the patents aforesaid, particularly the drain valve locatedat the lower end of the stand pipe and the adjustable connection betweenthe adjacent ends of two parts of the valve operating rod, whichconnection is' located at the upper end of the stand pipe.

A further object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple andefficient drain -valve housing or barrel which, by virtue of itsl simpleconstruction, can be easily and cheaply produced, readily ap'- plied toor removed from its position of use in the lower end of the stand pipe,and said housing or barrel being Vprovided with .aV plurality ofdischarge openings of ampleV area to permit the rapid escape or drainageof water from the stand pipe and said apertures being disposed so astominimize the danger of their becoming closed by stones, gravel orearth when theV stand Vpipe is placed in position in the ground.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts,hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theYaccom-V panying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view ofa fire hydrant of my improved construction, parts thereof being invertical section for the purpose of clearly illustrating myimprovement-s.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken through the center of thedrainvalverbarrell and showing the connection between the drain valveand the lower end of the rod which operates the main valve of thehydrant.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken approximately on the line3 3 of Fig. 1. l

Fig. a is an enlarged horizontal section taken approximately on the line1 -4 of Fig. 2.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings whichL illustrate VaVpractical en'ibodiinent of my invention, 10 designates the stand pipe,11 the cap on the upper end thereof,- 12 the lateral extension near thelower portion of the stand pipe, 13 the valve seat Vwithin said lateralextension, k14 the valve which is adapted to rest upon said seat 13, 15the valve operating rod which extends vertically through the stand pipe,and 16 the connecting links from the valve 1l'to the nuts or blockswhich are arranged upon the threaded portion of the operating rod 15.

All kof the parts justV described are well known in the art, and form nopart of my present invention.V Y

A cylindrical member 17, preferably of cast metal provides the barrelor. housing for the drain valve, said barrel being provided intermediateits ends with a rib or ange'lS which is threaded in order that saidbarrel lmay be screw-seated in a suitable aperture formed in the bottomplate of the stand pipe.

the ybody. of this barrel and preferably immediately' below the flange18 is a series of externally arranged lugs 19, the same being preferablyspaced at equal distances apart, in order to serve as seats or shouldersfor a tool such as a Spanner wrench which is used in screwing the barrel17 into the bottom of the stand pipe. y Y

Formed-in the -inner'surface of barrel 17 is a relativelyV narrowannular slot 20, the depth of which issuch thatV it extends en'- tirelythrough thewall of saidV barrel at points betweenl the lugs'19. Thus theopen portions 21 of said slot between said lugs 19 Y of water 'from thebottom of the stand pipe.

Formed through the upper portion of the wall of the barrel 17 areopenings 22 which permit water 'to pass from the chamber in the lowerportion ,of the stand pipe into the chamber withinsaid'barrel.

The drain valve which operates within the barrel 17 and controls theopenings 21 is'in the torni ot a .relativelyV thick disk 23 of rubber,liber, or analogous material, said valve being carried by the lower endof a y stem 24 which is non-circular in cross section and its upper endbeing provided with an externally threaded head 25. This head operateswithin anr internally threaded sleeve 2G, the latter being secured inany suitable manner to the lower end of the main valve operating rod15,A The lower end of sleeve 26 normally rests on a plate 27, the latterbeing loosely disposed on top of the drain barrel 17 and being heldagainst rotation by the engagement of its ends with the wall of thestand pipe, this latter arrangement being fully set forth in my PatentNo. 983,268.

The valve stem 24 is arranged to slide freely through a noncircularopening formed in the center of plate 27.

YEn vthe manufacture of the various parts of'a hydrant, it Vveryfrequently occurs that the upper portion of the body of the stand pipeand the upper portion of the main valve operating rod vary in length andto provide for these inaccuracies, andl prevent any lost motion betweenthe upper section of the main valve operating rod Vand the bearing orsocket therefor, I arrange on vthe upper portion of said main valveoperating rod an adjustable collar 2S which is adapted yto be lockedupon the rod in its adjusted Vposition by a set screw 29, said collarnormally bearing against the lower end of a relatively short valve vrodoperating shaft 30 which latter is mounted for rotation in a suitablebearing or stuiiing box 31 in cap 11 and the upper end of saidzshaftprojecting through said cap and provided with a non circular head 32adapted to receive a wrench .or like tool. The lower end of thisv shortshaft 30 is provided with a recess 33 which is adapted to receive theupper end'of valve operating rod 15.

against the lower end or short shaft 30 after l which set screw 29 istightened. Thus there is no lost motion between the associated parts androd cannot move vertically independent of shaft 30.

Under normal conditions or with the main valve 141 closed, asillustrated by dotted lines, F ig. 1, the drain valve 23 occupies aposition just below the annular groove 20, as shown in Fig. 2. .itsshaft 30 and rod 15 are rotated to open main valve 14, sleeve 26 will berotated, thereby drawing head 25 upwardly within said sleeve and thusvalve 23 will be drawn upwardly into position to close slotand theopenings 21. As rod 15 is furtherrotated to bring valve 14k into fullopen position, valve 23 and parts and will continue to move upward untilsaid valve 23 occupies a positionv in the Vupper portion of the barrel17, or at a point just below the openings 22. During this movement, stem24.- and parts carried thereby are prevented from rotation by reason ofthe fact that said stem is non-circular in cross section and occupies acorresponding aperture in plate. 27, the latter being held againstrotation by engagement with the wall of the stand pipe.

Thus the escape Vof water through the drain valve is prevented duringthe time main valve 14. is open and when thek latter is closed by propermanipulatiouot shaft and rod 15, valve 23 will be moved downward to apoint below groove 2O and openings 21 and the water from the chamberwithin the stand pipe is now free to pass through apertures 22 to thechamber within barrel 17 and trom thence outwardly through openings 21and thus drain into the ground adjacent to the lower end or' the standpipe.

To protect that portionof the drain valve housing or barrel whichprojects below `he Abottom plate voil the stand pipe, I prefer to formvintegral with the lower end oi" the stand pipe an annular wall ordepending flange' A which is spaced apart from and surrounds thedepending portion ot said barrel. i

A drain. valve oi my improved construe tion can be easily and cheaplymanufactured, can be readily applied to or removed fironithe stand pipe,is quick-draining by reason of the 'relativelyl large area ot thecombined drain openings and said drain openings occupy positions in thebarrel of the drain valvewhere they are attorded a iniximum degree oitprotectionv against being closed by gravel, dirt or the like. Y

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size', orm andconstruction of the various vparts Vof my improved drain valve may bemade and substituted for those herein shown and described, withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is setforth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a ire hydrant, a drain valve comprising a substantiallycylindrical housing adapted to be removably positioned in the lowerportion of the stand pipe of the hydrant, a continuous4 horizontallydisposed drain opening formed through the wall of the valve housing,lugs externally arranged on said housing and bridging said drainopening, and a valve arranged to move vertically within said housing andadapted to close said drain opening.

il. In a lire hydrant, a drain valve comprising a substantiallycylindrical housing adapted to be removably positioned in the lowerportion ot' the stand pipe of the hydrant, a continuous horizontallydisposed drain opening formed through the wall ot the valve housing,lugs externally arranged on said housing and bridging said drainopening, a valve arranged to move vertically7 within said housing andadapted to close said drain opening, and connections from said valve tothe operating rod for the main valve of the hydrant.

3. In a tire hydrant, a drain valve comprising a substantiallycylindrical member, an externally' arranged rib formed on said member,the outer face of which rib is threaded whereby said member may bescrew-seated in the lower portion ot' the stand pipe of the hydrant,there 'being an annular slot formed through the wall of said cylindricalmember immediately below the threaded rib, and integrally formed lugs onsaid cylindrical member immediately below the threaded rib, which lugsbridge the annular slot and form a connection be` tween the upper andlower portions of said cylindrical member. f

4. In a tire hydrant, a drain valve comprising a substantiallycylindrical housing adapted to be removably positioned in the lowerportionr of the stand pipe of the hydrant, said housing being providedwith an internally arranged annular slot, portions ot' which areextended entirely through the wall or' the housing to form elongatedrelatively narrow drain openings, external lugs on the housing betweensaid drain openings,

Ytween said lugs and beneath said rib, and a V valve arranged formovement within said housing and adapted to close said openings.

Vhousing' having an externally arranged threaded rib wherebysaid housingmay be vsiaew-seated in the lower portion of the stand pipe of thehydrant, lugs on saidhous ing beneath said rib, there being relativelynarrow elongated drain openings formed through the wall of the housingbetween said lugs and beneath'said rib, there being inlet openingsformed through the upper portion ot' the wall or' said housing, and avalve arranged for movement within said housing and adapted to closeysaid openings.

7. A drain valve housing for tire hydrants comprising a substantiallycylindrical mem# ber provided with an internally arranged annulargroove, and there being relatively narrow elongated openings formedlthrough the wall oia the housing and communicating with said groove.

8. A drain valve housing for re hydrants comprising a substantiallycylindrical mem ber provided with an internally arranged annular groove,there being relatively narrow elongated openings formed through the wallof the housing and communicating with said groove, and externallyarranged lugs on said housing-'between said openings.

9. A drain valve housing for tire hydrants comprising a substantiallycylindrical member prov'ided with an vinternally arranged annulargroove, there being relatively narrow elongated openings formed throughthe wall of the housing and communicating with said groove, and therebeing a shoulder formed o-n the outer surface of said housingimmediately above said openings.

l0. A drain valve housing for ire hydrants comprising a substantiallycylindrical member provided wit-han internally arranged annular groove,there being relatively narrow elongated openings formed through the wallof the housing and communicating with said groove, externally arrangedlugs on said housing between said openings, and there being a shoulder'formed on the outer surface of said housing im-Inediately above saidopenings.

11. A drain valve for re hydrants comprising aV substantiallycylindrical member,externally arranged lugs on the lower portion of saidmember, which lugs are spaced apart to form a seat for a Spanner wrench,and therebeing an annular slot TS I formed entirely through the wall ofsaid tion of said member, Which lugs are spaced apart to form a seat fora Spanner Wrench, there being,` an annular slot'ormed entirely throughthe Wall of said cylindrical member in the same plane with said lugs,the portions of said slot between said lugs constitilting drainopenings, and an externally threaded rib formed on the cylindrical.member immediately above Said lugs.

13. A drain valve for ire hydrants oomprising a substantiallycylindrical member, externally arranged 'lugs on the lower portion ofsaid member, which lugs are spaced apart to form a seat for a SpannerWrench,

there beingan annular slot formed entirely through the wall of saidCylindrical member in the same plane with said lugs, the portions oisaid slot between said lugs constituting drain openings, an externallythreaded rib formed on the Cylindrical member immediately above saidlugs, the upper end of said Cylindrical member being provided with avalve seat, and there being Water inlet openings formed through theupper portion of the Wall of said cylindrical member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, this 26th day of0otober, 1918.

\ WILLAM YV. COREY.

